duncan228
12-09-2007, 11:49 PM
I was surprised that I couldn't find this posted anywhere.
http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/spursworld/2007/12/why_the_spurs_keep_matt_bonner.html
Bonner steps up with Duncan still out
Matt Bonner opened Friday's game like a man used to starting. Just 41 seconds after the opening tip, he took a pass from Tony Parker and nailed a 3-pointer for the Spurs' first basket.
Bonner was one of the players who stepped up in the Spurs' 104-98 victory over the Jazz. He got the start when the Spurs shuffled their lineup for the second straight game while Tim Duncan sits. It was Bonner's first start of the season, and only the seventh start in his 235 career NBA regular-season games.
"Getting a starting assignment all of a sudden didn't faze him," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He came out and did a good job, knocked down the first shot.
"He's also a competitor. He's out there to play. It's good to see him do what he did and get some good minutes."
Bonner's second 3-pointer came with 5:56 left in the second quarter.
Bonner hit a jumper with 8:31 left in the game that cut Utah's lead to 82-81. His jumper with 6:36 left put the Spurs in front 85-85.
The 6-foot-10 forward played 32 minutes and finished with 13 points, four rebounds and one block. It wasn't exactly a Duncan-like performance, but still a solid effort for a player averaging 5.9 points in 16.1 minutes per game.
"He gave us everything we wanted," Popovich said. "Matty does a great job in understanding what role he plays. He's a heck of a shooter. He busts his butt on the board. He knocked down a couple, one big free throw for us."
-Joe Alexander, MySanAntonio.com
http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/spursworld/2007/12/why_the_spurs_keep_matt_bonner.html
Bonner steps up with Duncan still out
Matt Bonner opened Friday's game like a man used to starting. Just 41 seconds after the opening tip, he took a pass from Tony Parker and nailed a 3-pointer for the Spurs' first basket.
Bonner was one of the players who stepped up in the Spurs' 104-98 victory over the Jazz. He got the start when the Spurs shuffled their lineup for the second straight game while Tim Duncan sits. It was Bonner's first start of the season, and only the seventh start in his 235 career NBA regular-season games.
"Getting a starting assignment all of a sudden didn't faze him," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He came out and did a good job, knocked down the first shot.
"He's also a competitor. He's out there to play. It's good to see him do what he did and get some good minutes."
Bonner's second 3-pointer came with 5:56 left in the second quarter.
Bonner hit a jumper with 8:31 left in the game that cut Utah's lead to 82-81. His jumper with 6:36 left put the Spurs in front 85-85.
The 6-foot-10 forward played 32 minutes and finished with 13 points, four rebounds and one block. It wasn't exactly a Duncan-like performance, but still a solid effort for a player averaging 5.9 points in 16.1 minutes per game.
"He gave us everything we wanted," Popovich said. "Matty does a great job in understanding what role he plays. He's a heck of a shooter. He busts his butt on the board. He knocked down a couple, one big free throw for us."
-Joe Alexander, MySanAntonio.com